Page 26 of The Coworker
“She and her boyfriend were on some kind ofbreak,” he explains. “We went out two times, then she went back to her boyfriend.”
“She dumped you?”
“She didn’t dump me. It wastwodates.” He glances behind him, where Kelli is taking some other customer’s order. “And even if she didn’t go back to her boyfriend, I don’t think there was going to be a third date. We weren’t a match.”
“Oh, I get it. I didn’t know you were so picky, Reese.”
“I’m not picky!” He takes a drink from his beer and licks foam from his upper lip. “I’m just waiting for the right person. And Kelli was nice enough, but it wasn’t her. Is that awful?”
“No, not awful.”
He traces a pattern on the condensation of his glass. “So how about you? Were you married before?”
“No.”
“Oh.” He nods. “So Josh’s dad…”
“Not in the picture,” I blurt out. “Atall.”
And also serving a life sentence for murder. That too.
I’m used to getting a sympathetic look when I tell people I’m doing this all by myself, but that isn’t the look Tim gives me. It’s something different. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
“That sounds hard,” he finally comments.
“We’re fine.”
“I didn’t say you weren’t.”
“Look…” I take a drink of my own alcoholic beverage for courage. “I just want to be clear that my life is kind of complicated right now, and I’m not looking for… you know,anything. Except friendship.”
“Oh, good.” He leans back in his seat, which squeaks under his weight. “Because that’s exactly what I’m looking for too. Friendship.”
“Good then.”
“Perfect.”
I study him across the table as he smiles back at me. Tim is a good guy, he always has been, and I believe that if I tell him all I want is friendship, he won’t push anything further. He’ll respect my wishes.
After all, ten years ago, he saved my life.
Chapter 14
It’s sad that on a Saturday, I have nothing better to do than go grocery shopping. The shopping trip is literally the highlight of my weekend.
It was Josh who convinced me to go. First, he discovered we were out of Lucky Charms and wrote it in all capital letters on the shopping list that I keep on the fridge. He mentioned last night that we didn’t have any. Then this morning, he looked especially forlorn as he poured himself a bowl of Cheerios instead of Lucky Charms, repeatedly mentioning that he wished there were some colorful marshmallows in his cereal. Then he wrote it on the shopping list a second time.
He also pointed out that I could go shopping without having to get a babysitter. Josh has been pushing for a little more freedom, and to be fair, he’s old enough to stay by himself for an hour while I’m at the supermarket. So here I am, buying Lucky Charms and I guess eggs and cheese and bread and some other stuff we need.
While I am inspecting a head of lettuce in the produce aisle, I get the distinct feeling I’m being watched. I look over my shoulder and wince at the sight of a familiar face. It’s Kelli—that girl who waited on us the other night at the Shamrock. The one who was on the cheerleading squad with me, back before my entire life went to hell.
Our eyes make contact. At this point, it would be worse to ignore her, so I wave hesitantly. “Hi…”
The woman shoots daggers at me with her eyes. “I know you.”
I freeze, not sure how to respond. Does she mean she knows me from when I was out with Tim? Or does she recognize me from all those years ago? I hope it’s the former.
“You’re the woman who was having drinks with Tim the other night,” she says.
